Missouri Republican, Democratic parties respond to Supreme Court draft opinion

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Both the Missouri Republican and Democratic parties issued statements after it was revealed Monday, May 2, that a draft memo of an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision stated the 1973 Roe v. Wade abortion case would be overturned.

The following is from the Missouri Republican Party:

It is likely that the 1973 Supreme Court Case Roe v Wade will be overturned in a couple of months, according to a leaked draft of the Supreme Court Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization opinion.

On Monday night, the news source Politico, obtained and published a draft of the Supreme Court opinion of the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which was set to be handed down within the next couple of months. The leaked draft indicated a vote of 5-4 in favor of the state of Mississippi and, in effect, overruling the 1973 Supreme Court Decision, Roe v. Wade. The Constitutional protections surrounding abortion would then be removed and the states would be allowed to regulate abortion individually.

Missouri Republican Party Chairman Nick Myers stated:

“Despite the unprecedented circumstances of a wrongfully leaked Supreme Court opinion, the expected result of this case is historic and a huge win for life. When Roe v Wade is overturned, It will a celebratory day for all those who have worked to get the disastrous Roe v Wade decision reversed.”

Missouri Democratic Pary statement

KANSAS CITY and COLUMBIA, MO. – On Monday night Politico obtained a draft copy of a majority opinion from the United States Supreme Court penned by Justice Samuel Alito which subsequently sent shockwaves through America due to the outright desire of the court, or a portion of, to repeal Roe v. Wade.

In the draft, Alito states, “we hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled,” and “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start.”

The United States Supreme Court has never seen a leak of this kind with an active case, and it is unclear how the draft was obtained or it's legitimacy.

The Supreme Court has not filed a final opinion and is not expected to do so until late June or early July, following standard Court protocol and schedule. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, a full, out-right ban on abortion would immediately take effect in Missouri, along with 10 other states and 20 with partial bans.

Executive Director Randy Dunn released the following statement following Politico’s breaking news Monday night:

“If this opinion comes to fruition, the blow to women’s rights will be extraordinary. Roe was originally ruled in 1973 and for nearly five decades has been upheld in courts across our country. Most Americans, let alone Missourians, supported Roe v. Wade back then and now. Leading up to its historical passage, over 60 percent of Americans agreed that women should have unfettered access to healthcare. That percentage has remained stable for decades for one simple reason: it is a fundamental right. Now, in 2022, a politicized Supreme Court may be doing the unthinkable and trying to take away their right to safe and accessible healthcare. We live in America, the leader of the free world - unless you are a woman. We must not forget the radical right’s goals when we get to the ballot box at midterms,” said Dunn.

Communications Director Bailey Tramutolo added the statement below:

“If this report is accurate, women are about to see a massive decrease in personal rights. This is not a drill. For years, radical right-wing legislatures have been slowly picking away at Roe v. Wade. Whether the process was slow or we didn’t want to believe it was actually possible, we are now facing the horrifying consequences. It is critical to note that the justices in support of overturning have been placed on the court by presidents who lost the popular vote. Historically, the Supreme Court has been ‘above’ partisan politics and making a scene. Whether the leak was internal or external, the Supreme Court is quickly becoming a less trusted and revered institution – something our founding fathers surely never intended or imagined,” said Tramutolo.